Rise in number of school cases

Latest involves pupil at academy in Perth

The number of coronavirus cases linked to schools in Tayside and Fife has risen to 47, following further positive tests linked to a special needs school in Dundee and a new confirmed report in Perth.

Dundee accounts for 43 of the cases, including 38 connected to Kingspark School.

The latest reported case involves a pupil at St John’s RC Academy in Perth.

The S1 pupil has been self-isolating for almost two weeks since receiving the news.

All pupils who have been in close contact with their classmate have also been told to stay at home as a precautionary measure.

Parents of affected students were contacted immediately, while others were made aware by a letter sent out by the head teacher, Sean Hagney.

It read: “I recognise that this information may be concerning. Please be assured that St John’s RC Academy remains open.

“The school is working in partnership with NHS Tayside, Public Health Scotland, and Perth and Kinross education and children services.

“The multi-agency group has assessed the infection and prevention control plans that are in place in the school, and they have confidence in the stringent measures we have introduced to control the spread of coronavirus.”

The Gowans Terrace campus includes buildings for nursery, primary and secondary pupils, who travel from across Perthshire to attend the region’s only Roman Catholic secondary school.

Dr Daniel Chandler, Tayside’s associate director of public health, said: “Parents of the wider school and nursery population have been reassured that if they have not been contacted individually, their child has not been identified as a contact of a case.

“They can continue to attend school and undertake other activities as normal.

“Risk assessments are being carried out, however, parents should be assured that all appropriate precautions and cleaning regimes are in place and the school remains open.”

A Perth and Kinross Council spokesman said: “The pupil has not been in school since August 18 and is currently self-isolating in line with public health guidelines.

“There is currently no evidence to suggest there is any transmission of Covid-19 within the school but classmates and a number of close contacts have been asked to self-isolate until September 2.”

Elsewhere in Perth and Kinross, one pupil at Oakbank Primary School in Perth and a second at Newhill Primary School in Blairgowrie have tested positive for the virus. The two children were told to self-isolate at home with their immediate family.

Fife has just one single case so far, at Newburgh nursery.

It is understood there are no cases relating to schools in Angus.

Kingspark School in Dundee, which has around 185 pupils with additional support needs, closed last week following a series of positive cases.

The number has risen to 22 staff members, three pupils and 13 community cases connected to the outbreak.

Disease expert Professor Hugh Pennington said the spread could be linked to the school’s high ratio of staff to pupils.

Several cases linked to the Kingspark outbreak have also been discovered at nearby city schools.

A single case has been identified at SS Peter and Paul’s RC Primary School.

It is understood children in the Primary 2A class have been told to isolate at home for a period of 14 days.

There are two positive cases at Happy Times out-of-school care club, based at Downfield Primary School.

Parents were contacted and advised that their children should self-isolate for 14 days, returning to school on September 14.

Primary three pupils at St Clement’s RC Primary in Dundee were also asked to self-isolate for 14 days earlier this week after a child at the school tested positive for Covid-19.

The school remains open and pupils from other year groups are still encouraged to attend as normal.

The primary three classroom will undergo a deep clean before pupils can return, health chiefs have said.

Dr Ellie Hothersall, chairwoman of the Incident Management Team, said: “Parents of the wider school population

“Please be assured that St John’s RC Academy remains open.

SEAN HAGNEY

at St Clements have been reassured that if they have not been contacted individually, their child has not been identified as a contact of a case.

“They can continue to attend school and undertake other activities as normal.”

One Dundee secondary school has also recorded a case of the virus.

A pupil at Grove Academy, Broughty Ferry, has tested positive for Covid-19.

There are also a small number of staff and other children who have come into contact with the pupil who have been asked to self-isolate for 14 days.

Pupils who have not been contacted by the track and trace team should attend school as normal.

Health bosses said a series of precautions had been taken in Tayside schools to limit the areas pupils access and the people they have contact with, limiting the potential spread of the virus and making it easier for public health teams to identify anyone who has been in contact with a child who later tests positive.

If a child shows symptoms of Covid-19, they should not go to school.

Parents or carers should arrange for the youngster to be tested and all household members should stay at home during this time.